Prof Jo Phoenix vs The OU - Employment Tribunal Thread 2

[ickky]

Abbreviations

JP - Jo Phoenix, Claimant (C)
OU - The Open University, Respondent (R)
J - Regional Employment Judge Young
P - Panel or panel member
BC - Ben Cooper KC, Counsel for C
JM - Jane Mulcahy KC, Counsel for R

OU Departments & Networks:

HWSRA - Health & Wellbeing Strategic Research Area
FASS - Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
SPC - Dept of Social Policy & Criminology
KMi - Knowledge Media Institute
GCRN - Gender Critical Research Network

OU witnesses

CW - Chris Williams, Senior Lecturer History
CT - Catherine Tomlinson, Senior Student Advisor
SE - Sarah Earle, Prof of Medical Sociology, Director HWSRA 2016-22
DD - Dr Deborah Drake, Senior Lecturer Criminology, Head of SPC 2018-21
LW - Louise Westmarland, Prof of Criminology, Co-Deputy Head SPC, 2018-21, Current Head SPC
LD - Dr Leigh Downes, Senior Lecturer in Criminology (in SPC), Academic Lead for EDI FASS 2019-21
PB - Dr Paraskevi Boukli, Former Senior Lecturer Criminology, Deputy Head SPC 2021-22
MW - Prof Marcia Wilson, Dean EDI, 2020-23
CM - Caragh Molloy, Group People Director 2019-23
JD - John Domingue, Prof of Computing Science, Director KMi, 2015-22
PK - Peter Keogh, Professor Health & Society, Member RSSH
CW - Dr Christopher Williams, Senior Lecturer History
SD - Shaun Daley, Head OU’s Resourcing Hub. Head Strategic Resources, Co-Chair OU’s LGBT+ Staff Network
HBC - Helen Bowes-Catton, Lecturer Social Research Methods
NS - Nicola Snarey, Assoc Lecturer Eng Language
NatS - Natalie Starkey, Outreach & Public Engagement Officer Sch Physical Sciences, 2019-22
CT - Cath Tomlinson, Senior Student Advisor
SJ - Samantha Jacobson, Employee Relations Case Manager
RH - Richard Holliman, Prof Engaged Research, Head School Environment, Earth & Ecosystem Sciences, 2019-22. Member of Investigation Panel investigating the C’s grievance

Witness for JP:

SE - Sarah Earle, Professor Modern History Uni of Oxford, Founding member GCRN

Tribunal Tweets - https://twitter.com/tribunaltweets

TT coverage so far https://tribunaltweets.substack.com/p/professor-jo-phoenix-v-the-open-university

Thread 1
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/4905118-jo-phoenix-vs-the-ou-employment-tribunal-2nd-october-whispers-ben-cooper?page=1

Oh very good. Showing Jo was vocal in free speech rights even of people she had opposing views to, and Dr Downes a fan of shutting them down without debate.

JP explains 'peak trans'.

I wonder what the procedure is for attending in person, does anyone know?

I went earlier in the week. You just turn up and they ask you which case you're here for. It takes a bit of time to get through security so I would suggest aiming to get there for 9.30am for a 10am start. Once you're through security, they ask if you are 'claimant or respondent' - Jo's a claimant - and they direct you to the claimant's waiting room, where claimants for a number of hearings are waiting. And then everyone gets called in once the tribunal is ready.

I laughed when JM had to rush back from her questions about whether the reading job was a done deal when JP pointed out it was a serious allegation to make against the university

BC now finished and JP released.

Will resume on Monday 10am

Sarah Earle to start.

I'd be interested to make what the VC of reading says to the VC of the OU!

TT final commentary from today.

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1710309493878190086.html

Brilliant Jo you were amazing. It was horrible to see you dealing with those questions but you were inspiring

I hope Jo can relax a bit this weekend knowing the hard part for her is now done.

JP did so well to get through all those accusations and questions. Hope she has a lovely relaxing weekend.

At the end of such a harrowing experience, what an amazing comeback that was! Well done, Jo, you are such a brave, strong woman and we owe you so much.

She was absolutely brilliant, thank goodness they got finished today.

An amazing woman. I hope she knows or someone can tell her how much support she had in the witness box from people online who have never met her but appreciate so much what she doing.

Jo if you are reading this, well done three days answering questions is exhausting. Have a good weekend.

So glad she's finished.

I don't think any of these cases so far have been so unnecessarily brutal.

So glad they got Jo's part finished before the weekend and it's not left hanging over her.

I really hope Jo has someone running her a hot bath, handing her a stiff drink and generally holding her up tonight. That was gruelling to read. I can’t imagine how strong she is to be actively going through this.

💪🏼 Power to you, Jo. Hold on tight x

Would just like to thank ickky for top work in adding the TT links and the seamless thread transition.

Thank you everyone who is enabling so many of us to follow this. It's been awful to read, how much worse to live through. Thank goodness this bit finished today.

Seconded!

Kia kaha Jo

👏ickky as always a sterling job.

Strength and love Professor Phoenix x

She does. Although her partner is probably in need of support herself after that.